This guide compares the best electric sheet metal shears on the market at a range of different sizes, prices and specifications. Cheap way to quickly cut through flat metal sheet.
These are mostly double cut shears so they have two cutters total and cut a fine strip of metal out of the metal sheet. Double cut shears are better at giving a cleaner cut than single cut shears, which can warp the side of the metal. With double cut shears you’ll end up with cleaner sheet metal on both sides of the cut. They’re perfect for cutting chicken wire, roof panels, flat metal sheet but not ideal for cutting ribbed or corrugated metal.
Best Corded Electric Sheet Metal Shears
1. Milwaukee 6852-20 18ga Shears
Best professional
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(4.0 / 5)
(5.0 / 5)
(4.7 / 5)These are high-end, quality Milwaukee double cut electric shears. They’re built to be lightweight but durable with a magnesium gear case. At 6.8A it’s powerful for electric shears and they’re designed to get fast, clean cuts.
Milwaukee are known for their durability and their 5-year warranty shows how confident they are with their product. It comes with variable speed trigger 0-2500SPM to help you set the right speed and a lock on button to set at your desired speed. It removes a thin strip of metal with thickness 13/64″ and will fly through your 18ga or thinner sheet metal.
The only real downside is that it is around $125 more than budget models listed below so it isn’t the best if you’re on a budget, but if you don’t mind paying a bit extra on something that will hold up to heavy use for at least 5 years, these are for you. It also has a 10 foot power cord which is handy in bigger workshops.
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2. WEN 3650
Best for the money
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(4.5 / 5)These WEN double cut shears are really popular amongst hobbyists because they’re lightweight and amazing value for money. They can cut up to 18-gauge sheet metal and remove a curled strip of metal 1/4-inch thick from the metal sheet when they cut. They also have a 3 inch turning radius with a 360° swivel head, making them versatile and capable of cutting in different directions from different angles. The trigger is pressure-sensitive to vary the speed from 0-2500SPM depending on how much force is applied, with a lock-on switch the maintain the power at a set rate.
The lightweight plastic design makes it easy to hold and great for occasional use, but not ideal if you want something durable to hold up to the rigours of daily use over a long period of time. Overall it’s perfect if you want something cheap that will let you glide through thin sheet metal every now and then.
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3. Genesis GES40 4.0 Electric Metal Shear
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The Genesis electric metal shears are a great alternative to WEN if you’re looking for the best electric shears for the money. The only reason we’ve rated them lower is because they are a few dollars more expensive, but are very similar. These are great for quickly cutting thin lines of straight sheet metal up to 18ga. They have a 360° swivel head but they aren’t good for cutting curves so you’re best buying this if you want something just to speed up cutting sheet metal such as metal roofing in straight lines. They’re pretty lightweight and not the most solidly built, but they cut fast and leave an OK edge. A definite upgrade on tin snips!
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4. Wild Edge Electric Metal Shear 5.0 Amp
Good all-round
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The Wild Edge electric shears are a good all-round option if you’re looking a bit better than the cheapest shears but don’t feel the need to splash out the most expensive. They are more powerful than the cheaper models, with a 5A motor and 0-2700SPM variable speed with a locking button. This makes them fly through roofing steel like a knife through butter. Wild Edge rate this for 14ga sheet metal but they must mean aluminum because it’s not made to cut 14ga steel. In reality it cuts 18ga sheet metal very well but isn’t really designed for anything thicker than that. It removes about 1/4 inch strip of metal from the centre which gives it much cleaner cuts than tin snips. Overall they’re definitely one to consider for a good mid-range option. They have the 360° swivel head which is pretty standard with these models but the only downside is that they only offer a one year warranty.
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5. Eastwood Electric Metal Cutting Shears
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(4.3 / 5)Finally, we have the Eastwood metal cutting shears. Eastwood are a good manufacturer but these sit in the same class as the WEN and Genesis models and are pretty basic shears. They have the standard 4A motor, 360° swivel head and 0-2500SPM which locking button. They only have a one year warranty compared to two years for other brands. They’re also a bit heavier than WEN and Genesis shears but are still Chinese made from plastic. The blade removes 3/16″ from the work piece and they can cut up to 18-gauge sheet metal. Overall they’re a decent pair at a good price but you might be able to find similar ones for a bit cheaper.
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Best Cordless Electric Sheet Metal Shears
Bigger and heavier than corded shears with battery. If you’ve already got a battery then you might simply want to get a model that matches your battery. If you don’t have a battery then you will need to get a compatible battery which you’ll be able to use with other power tools of the same brand.
1. DeWALT 20V Metal Shear 14GA DCS494B
Best all-round
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(4.8 / 5)Our favorite cordless electric shears are the 14ga shears from DeWalt. These are double cut shears and they remove a 7/32″ strip from the metal to give a more accurate cut and a cleaner finish. This is a dream tool for anyone working on roofing projects or who needs to cut a lot of flat sheet metal because they’re portable and will glide through metal with ease. It will struggle to cut through corrugated metal but it’s perfect for flat metal. The design and the 360° swivel head also helps you get into tight spots and there’s an LED light to illuminate the metal.
One of our favorite things about these is that they are capable of cutting up to 14-gauge mild steel for a reasonable price. That extra versatility is great knowing you can easily cut through 16ga steel. Sometimes it’s better to play it safe and buy a tool with more power than you need just in case you come up against something thick in the future. If you definitely don’t need 14-gauge capacity then check out below to see DeWalt’s 18-gauge model, which is a great alternative. Compatible with the DeWalt 20V MAX Battery.
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2. Ryobi P591 18V 18ga Metal Shears
Best for the money
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The Ryobi P591 is the cheapest cordless tool in our recommendations which makes it ideal for anyone on a budget looking for something under $100. However, the main thing to note about these is that they aren’t actually double cut shears. These are single cut shears, so they won’t give you as smooth cuts as other shears, especially when cutting curves.
They are still decent, and will fly through flat 18-gauge metal sheet or wire fence with no problem but you won’t be able to cut corrugated. The rotating head is handy for cutting at different angles and there’s a belt clip on the side which might be a useful feature if you think you’d carry it around a lot. A 3 year warranty on a budget tool is pretty good to see as well.
Overall it’s a great budget option that’s portable and will help you cut flat sheet fast. It compatible with a Ryobi One+ 18V Battery which can power the cutting of over 1000 feet of sheet metal on one battery charge. This will set you back more money if you don’t have one but it still could end up being cheaper combined for battery and tool than other brands just for the tool.
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3. Milwaukee 6852-20 18-Gauge Shears
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These Makita 18-gauge electric sears have a really great design. The angle of the handle brings you closer to the front of the shears which makes them easier to control and manoeuvre. At 15.2″ long, they are longer than Makita, so they’re not the best on the market for getting into tight spaces, but are 0.8″ shorter than DeWalt. They’re really durable and cheaper than Makita which is why they just edge it above them in our rankings, although they don’t cut as fast so it depends what your priorities are.
They have just about everything you’d expect from top quality shears, including a 360° swivel head, a massive 5-year warranty, great build quality and up to 2500SPM variable speed with locking switch. There’s also a small grey belt hook on the handle for extra portability if you don’t want to carry it. Overall, they’re quality shears that are a bit more ergonomic, fast and better at getting into tight spaces than DeWalt, but are more expensive. They’re compatible with M18 batteries.
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4. DeWalt 20V Metal Shear 18GA DCS491B
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These DeWalt shears are the 18-gauge younger brother to our top rated 14-gauge metal shears. They’re very similar in their build and design, but are cheaper and can only cut up to 18-gauge mild steel. They have the variable speed trigger with lock-on switch, however, the range is slightly lower and they only cut up to 2300SPM.
The design and the 360° swivel head& is the same as the 14ga and this helps you get into tight spots. They also have an LED light to illuminate the metal. Overall it’s a quality all-round product that’s well built at a reasonable price and is perfect for cutting through flat sheet metal. Compatible with the DeWalt 20V MAX Battery.
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5. Makita XSJ01Z 18V LXT 18ga Metal Shears
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This is the most expensive tool on our list, but they are top quality metal shears. Amazon have listed this as having 0-2800SPM variable speed, but if you check the product specifications it actually has up to a whopping 3000SPM which makes it the fastest tool on our list as well. It’s quite compact at 13-3/4″ long compared to the DeWalt shears which are just under 16″ long, so they’re ideal if you prefer the more compact shears that can more easily get into tight spots as well as being more portable and take up less room in your toolbox.
There’s something about Makita products where they just feel nice to hold. There’s also a belt clip on the side of the tool so you don’t have to carry it when on-site if you want your hands free. It is still only designed for cutting flat sheet metal and the extra price doesn’t really give it any fancy features apart from the extra speed. But what you do get is knowing you have a quality built item that’s compact and super-fast at cutting metal.
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